Utah Jazz at Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, March 28 looks like a mismatch on paper. Our ratings give the Hornets about a 88% chance, and the Jazz would need an unusual night to change that.
Why the gap is wide
The Win Meter reads the Hornets 88%, with a projected score of Utah Jazz 108, Charlotte Hornets 121. The rating gap is 247 points in favor of the Hornets, and home court and rest add about 99 rating points for the Hornets on top of that.
A reading this high has real meaning, but upsets of this size happen. Nearly one game in 8 like it goes the other way.
Recent form
The Jazz are 1-3 this season and 1-4 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -11.4. The Hornets are 3-1 this season and 3-2 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -11.8.
The Jazz were beaten 131-107 on the road by LAL not long ago.
The Hornets were beaten 128-81 at home by ATL not long ago.
Offense against defense
The Jazz score 112.8 a game and allow 121. The Hornets score 104 and allow 111. Pairing each offense with the other defense points to about 111.9 for the Jazz and 112.5 for the Hornets, a simple check on the Win Meter's projection.
The Jazz have defended better than the Hornets have scored, so the Hornets may need to find offense elsewhere.
Injuries to watch
Out: Jusuf Nurkic (UTA), expected back Nov 4, 2026, Trey Alexander (UTA), expected back Oct 28, 2026, Coby White (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026, Kon Knueppel (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026, and Grant Williams (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026.
Day to day or questionable: Jaxson Hayes (UTA), Lauri Markkanen (UTA), and Jaren Jackson Jr. (UTA). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Hornets lead 4-0, with the Hornets outscoring the Jazz by an average of 21.8 points per game. The last meeting was CHA 150, UTA 95.